While firefighters are working tirelessly to contain the fires in California, another wildfire was reported this Wednesday on Little Mountain Drive, which raised alarms due to the threat it posed to nearby structures.
The fire has already burned around 34 acres in San Bernardino County, and although the flames have been contained, firefighters remain on alert due to the possibility of it reigniting.
The so-called Little Mountain fire adds to the fires that started in Los Angeles County last week, which have devastated much of the area and caused loss of life.
How many deaths have the California fires caused?
So far, the fires in California have killed at least 25 people.
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Santa Ana winds could reignite fires in California
The intense Santa Ana winds will begin to decrease by the end of this Wednesday in most of Southern California, although the relief will be temporary.
On Friday, the wind direction will change, bringing in more humid air that will increase the relative humidity in the region. Along with calmer winds, this will reduce the risk of fires over the weekend.
However, a new round of Santa Ana winds is expected to begin next Tuesday or Wednesday, with a 40% chance that these winds will fan the existing fires or create new hot spots.
Where did the Los Angeles fire originate?
The first fire in Los Angeles started in Pacific Palisades, in the western part of the county. Other fires followed, causing widespread destruction in residential areas.
What caused the fires in California?
The causes are still under investigation; however, meteorologists point out that the record rainfall in Los Angeles during 2024 led to an increase in vegetation, which has been a key factor in the wildfires currently affecting the area.
Once the rains ended and drought conditions set in, this abundance of vegetation acted as fuel for the fires, increasing the region’s vulnerability to large-scale wildfires.
How many acres are burning in California?
The fires that have affected Los Angeles County in the past week have destroyed over 40,000 acres.
California fires: Which ones have been contained?
According to fire departments, this is the latest update on the California fires:
- Eaton fire: 50% contained; has burned 14,117 acres
- Palisades fire: 14% contained; has burned 23,713 acres
- Hurst fire: 97% contained; has burned 799 acres
- Little Mountain fire: 100% contained; has burned 34 acres.
Which regions in the United States are most at risk for disasters?
According to a report from the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, based on data from 23 insurers, the following regions are most vulnerable to natural disasters:
- In California, northern counties like Butte, Mendocino, and Napa, as well as the southern areas like Los Angeles, are exposed to various risks.
- In Florida, coastal areas like Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Collier face a higher threat of hurricanes.
- In Louisiana, cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge are also vulnerable to hurricanes.
- Oklahoma experiences frequent tornadoes and extreme winds.
- In Hawaii, climate change has heightened coastal risks, such as beach erosion, rising sea levels, and tropical storms, particularly in islands like Oahu and Maui.
- In the northeastern United States, flooding and storms are increasingly common threats.
- New England, particularly the counties of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, is increasingly affected by coastal flooding and severe snowstorms.
- In the Carolinas, the rise in hurricanes impacting the Atlantic coast has generated higher insured risks in coastal areas like Charleston and Wilmington.
